Q: What is the prime factorization of the number 2,271,040?

 A:
  • The prime factors are: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 47 x 151
    • or also written as { 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 5, 47, 151 }
  • Written in exponential form: 26 x 51 x 471 x 1511

Why is the prime factorization of 2,271,040 written as 26 x 51 x 471 x 1511?

What is prime factorization?

Prime factorization or prime factor decomposition is the process of finding which prime numbers can be multiplied together to make the original number.

Finding the prime factors of 2,271,040

To find the prime factors, you start by dividing the number by the first prime number, which is 2. If there is not a remainder, meaning you can divide evenly, then 2 is a factor of the number. Continue dividing by 2 until you cannot divide evenly anymore. Write down how many 2's you were able to divide by evenly. Now try dividing by the next prime factor, which is 3. The goal is to get to a quotient of 1.

If it doesn't make sense yet, let's try it...

Here are the first several prime factors: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29...

Let's start by dividing 2,271,040 by 2

2,271,040 ÷ 2 = 1,135,520 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
1,135,520 ÷ 2 = 567,760 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
567,760 ÷ 2 = 283,880 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
283,880 ÷ 2 = 141,940 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
141,940 ÷ 2 = 70,970 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
70,970 ÷ 2 = 35,485 - No remainder! 2 is one of the factors!
35,485 ÷ 2 = 17,742.5 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 2 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
35,485 ÷ 3 = 11,828.3333 - This has a remainder. 3 is not a factor.
35,485 ÷ 5 = 7,097 - No remainder! 5 is one of the factors!
7,097 ÷ 5 = 1,419.4 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 5 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
7,097 ÷ 7 = 1,013.8571 - This has a remainder. 7 is not a factor.
7,097 ÷ 11 = 645.1818 - This has a remainder. 11 is not a factor.
7,097 ÷ 13 = 545.9231 - This has a remainder. 13 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
7,097 ÷ 47 = 151 - No remainder! 47 is one of the factors!
151 ÷ 47 = 3.2128 - There is a remainder. We can't divide by 47 evenly anymore. Let's try the next prime number
151 ÷ 53 = 2.8491 - This has a remainder. 53 is not a factor.
151 ÷ 59 = 2.5593 - This has a remainder. 59 is not a factor.
151 ÷ 61 = 2.4754 - This has a remainder. 61 is not a factor.
...
Keep trying increasingly larger numbers until you find one that divides evenly.
...
151 ÷ 151 = 1 - No remainder! 151 is one of the factors!

The orange divisor(s) above are the prime factors of the number 2,271,040. If we put all of it together we have the factors 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 5 x 47 x 151 = 2,271,040. It can also be written in exponential form as 26 x 51 x 471 x 1511.

Factor Tree

Another way to do prime factorization is to use a factor tree. Below is a factor tree for the number 2,271,040.

2,271,040
Factor Arrows
21,135,520
Factor Arrows
2567,760
Factor Arrows
2283,880
Factor Arrows
2141,940
Factor Arrows
270,970
Factor Arrows
235,485
Factor Arrows
57,097
Factor Arrows
47151

More Prime Factorization Examples

2,271,0382,271,0392,271,0412,271,042
21 x 71 x 111 x 14,747131 x 5211 x 1,45312,271,041121 x 32 x 2811 x 4491

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